Columbia in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Columbia sees average daytime highs around 63°F and overnight lows near 46°F, with 11.4 in of precipitation over about 32 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 49°F in early March to 77°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Columbia's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Columbia's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 63°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 46°F
- Precipitation
- 11.4 in
- 32 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 mph
- Travel score
- 5.1
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Columbia in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 49°F in early March to 77°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Columbia reaches about 63°F and drops to 46°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
How spring really feels in Columbia
Once humidity and wind are folded in, spring brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 21 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in spring is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Columbia weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42° / 28° | 3.1 | 8.5 | 3 | 9.6 | 0.2 |
| Feb | 44° / 29° | 2.9 | 8.5 | 3.2 | 10.5 | 0.9 |
| Mar | 53° / 36° | 4.0 | 10.3 | 2.2 | 11.7 | 3.0 |
| Apr | 64° / 47° | 3.5 | 10.3 | 0.2 | 13 | 5.7 |
| May | 73° / 56° | 3.8 | 11.4 | 0 | 14.1 | 6.5 |
| Jun | 82° / 65° | 3.7 | 11.6 | 0 | 14.7 | 5.8 |
| Jul | 86° / 70° | 4.2 | 12.1 | 0 | 14.5 | 4.7 |
| Aug | 84° / 69° | 3.7 | 10.9 | 0 | 13.5 | 5.4 |
| Sep | 78° / 61° | 4.6 | 9.1 | 0 | 12.3 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 66° / 50° | 3.6 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6.4 |
| Nov | 55° / 39° | 3.0 | 7.6 | 0.2 | 9.8 | 3.8 |
| Dec | 46° / 32° | 3.7 | 9 | 1.7 | 9.3 | 1.2 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Columbia gets around 11.4 in of rain and snow over 32 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 7 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 11 hours in early March to 14 h 30 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Columbia
None of Columbia's seasonal hazards peak in spring. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Columbia sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Is spring a good time to visit Columbia?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is a reasonable time to visit Columbia for sightseeing.
What to pack for Columbia in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Columbia sees daytime highs around 63°F and nights near 46°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 32 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Columbia in Spring
The nearest coast averages about 48°F across spring — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 26 mi away) is warmest in August at about 78°F and coldest in February near 36°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 16 to Oct 5 — about 3.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 38 | 36 | 40 | 47 | 58 | 68 | 76 | 78 | 74 | 65 | 53 | 44 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Refreshing | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Cool | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | Bracing |
| Feb | 36 | Bracing |
| Mar | 40 | Bracing |
| Apr | 47 | Bracing |
| May | 58 | Bracing |
| Jun | 68 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 76 | Warm |
| Aug | 78 | Warm |
| Sep | 74 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 65 | Cool |
| Nov | 53 | Bracing |
| Dec | 44 | Bracing |
UV index in Columbia in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Columbia peaks around July 10 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Columbia in Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Columbia is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 10 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| Level | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Good |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 13 | Moderate |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 16 | Moderate |
| Jul | 17 | Moderate |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 12 | Good |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 8 | Good |
| Dec | 10 | Good |
Where is Columbia?
Columbia sits at 39.2°N, 76.8°W, 407 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Ellicott City, 3.1 mi away.
Topography around Columbia
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Columbia.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Columbia has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 276 ft around an average of 404 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 755 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,313 ft.
The land around Columbia is covered by trees (75%) within 2 miles, trees (66%) within 10 miles, and trees (55%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Columbia (39.2404°, -76.8394°, elevation 407 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.